**Table 5.**

*Goats (Capra) - From Ancient to Modern*

Sinhal varies in its coat color from black to white, where gray, black, and white mixed are the common coat colors of this breed. Average adult body weight of Sinhal is reported as 35 kg for male and 29 kg for doe, with 69 cm body length,

**Parameters Cluster A (46) Cluster B (70) Cluster C (73)** Body length (cm) 69.3 ± 0.3a 66.5 ± 0.2b 64.9 ± 0.2c Wither height (cm) 66.9 ± 0.2a 64.7 ± 0.1b 59.2 ± 0.2c Heart girth (cm) 69.9 ± 0.3a 66.5 ± 0.2b 65.9 ± 0.2c Flank girth (cm) 81.7 ± 0.2a 80.1 ± 0.2b 71.4 ± 0.1c Flank height (cm) 68.9 ± 0.2a 67.3 ± 0.1b 61.1 ± 0.2c Ear length (cm) 15.6 ± 0.2a 13.3 ± 0.2b 13.3 ± 0.1b Horn length (cm) 16.7 ± 0.6a 10.7 ± 0.5b 11.3 ± 0.3b Adult weight (kg) 38.6 ± 0.8a 31.8 ± 0.4b 27.7 ± 0.5c *Note: Number in parenthesis indicates the number of observations. Cluster A, goats from midwestern region (Salyan and Surkhet); Cluster B, goats from west (Lumle and Bandipur); and Cluster C, goats from east (Sindhuli and* 

Chyangra goats are the mountain goat originating from Tibet reared in trans-Himalayan region along with Bhyanglung, a type of sheep in high mountain and trans-Himal region 2500 meters above sea level. They have been reared in situ condition by farmers themselves. They are suitable for meat and pack and are popular for high value as well as fine quality called *Chyangra* fiber known as *Pashmina* [20]. Their population is declining and hence needs attention. They have been characterized at phenotypic and mitochondrial levels. Chyangra fiber has high market potentials, as they have unique blend and qualities and hence are popular within and outside the country. Chyangra population is estimated to be around 1% of the total goat population, i.e., 0.11 million heads in Nepal [6]. Body color varies from pure white to pure black with mixed patch of different colors. Its compact body weighs around 30 kg with body length of 62 cm and chest girth of 71 cm. Wither height is 62 cm. Body weight varies from 29 to 32 kg for females and 35–40 kg for males. The morphological variation of four indigenous

Owing to the remoteness, harsh climatic condition and transhumance system of management Chyangra goat are not getting due consideration from public and private institutions. Thus, productivity and population of this breed is dwindling rapidly. The goat is used for meat and for pack purpose in mountain terrace where road facilities are seldom. The breed is also used for production of precious *pashmina* (Chyangra cashmere). Besides their incomparable contribution in mountain farming system, the breed has not been understood completely in the sense of their quantitative and qualitative attributes. Limited information are available on morphological characteristics and growth traits. The breed is not fully utilized for its Chyangra cashmere production, and this is an area of importance where focus is required [25].

Apart from above indigenous breeds, there are niche specific breed studied at inner Terai region, that is, Chitwan District of Nepal, referred to as Chitwan local

78 cm heart girth, and 59 cm wither height on an average.

*Pakhribas) of Nepal. Means with different superscripts differ significantly. Source: [14].*

*Khari goats from different clusters of eastern, western, and midwestern regions of Nepal.*

breeds of goats in Nepal is presented hereunder (see **Table 5**).

*4.1.4 Chyangra*

**Table 4.**

**62**

*4.1.5 Chitwan local goats*

*Comparative morphometric measurements of indigenous breeds of goat (values are means in cm ± standard errors).*

goats. Very limited information is available about this breed to date. These breeds have a medium-sized body having heavier body weight than Khari and Terai goat breeds with dominant white color with distribution of brown, black, and mixed color. It has been reported that the age at first conception, age at first kidding, gestation length, kidding interval, and postpartum estrus were 211, 356, 147, 236, and 87 days, respectively, for adult does of Chitwan local goats. The adult does of Chitwan local (31.1 kg) were significantly heavier (p < 0.001) than that of Terai goat (25.9 kg) and Khari goats (23.5 kg). It had been observed that the mean birth, weaning, and postweaning (8 months) weight for these breeds of goats were 2.48, 13.22, and 17.64 kg, respectively. Apart from above findings, it is also reported that the mean litter size at birth were 2.0, 1.53, and 1.48 kids per doe and at weaning were 1.94, 1.49, and 1.28 kids per doe for Chitwan local, Terai, and Khari goats, respectively [26, 27].

### **4.2 Popular exotic breeds of goats in Nepal**

### *4.2.1 Jamnapari*

Jamnapari is a breed of goat originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is a dual-purpose breed kept for both milk and meat. Jamnapari goats were mainly introduced in Nepal to upgrade and improve body weight of local Khari and Terai goats. Adult Jamunapari goat has a body weight of 45 kg for bucks and 38 kg for does along with wither height between 75 and 78 cm, body lengths of 75–77 cm, and heart girth of 76–79.5 cm (**Table 6**). Yearling weight of these goats in research stations was about 21 kg. The average age at first kidding and kidding interval in Jamnapari goats is 770 and 428 days, respectively.


### **Table 6.**

*Comparative productive performance of exotic breeds of goat in Nepal.*

### *4.2.2 Barbari*

The Barbari goats are a meat-type breed that is found in Mathura District of Uttar Pradesh, in addition to Gujrat, Jhelum, and Sargodha districts in Punjab Province. Barbari goats are popular for its compact and small body with average adult weight ranging from 23–36 kg (**Table 6**). Body color is mainly white with brownish red spots and coat is short. The head is small, with small upward-pointing ears and small curled horns. Does have good reproductive performance and produce well in intensive system and at dry areas. Average age at first kidding and kidding interval in Barbari goats is 588 and 274 days, respectively. Triple kidding and early maturity are common features of these goats.

### *4.2.3 Sirohi/Ajmeri*

The Sirohi and Ajmeri goats are a meat-type breed that is found in Sirohi District of Rajasthan. This breed also extends to Palanpur in Gujarat. Mature males weigh around 50 kg but females weigh only 25–30 kg (**Table 6**). These are compact, medium-sized animals. Coat color is predominantly brown, with light or dark brown patches; a very few individuals are completely white. Most animals are wattled. Ears are flat and leaf-like and medium-sized and have a drooping ear length of 18.8 cm. Both sexes have small horns, curved upward and backward. Tail is medium in length and curved upward. Udder is small and round, with small teats placed laterally. Some commercial farms and lead farmers have imported this breed and crossbred with Khari and Terai goats, but the information regarding the productive and reproductive performance is still to come.

### *4.2.4 Boer*

The Boer is an improved breed with some infusion of European, Angora, and Indian goat breeding developed in South Africa in the early 1900s. The Boer goat is primarily a meat goat with several adaptations to the region in which it was developed. It is a horned breed with lop ears and showing a variety of color patterns. The most common color of this breed is white body with red head and large, muscular frame. The Boer goat is being popular for its browsing ability and limited impact on the grass cover. Producing weaning rates in excess of 160%, the Boer goat doe is a low-maintenance animal that has sufficient milk to rear a kid that is early maturing. The mature buck weighs between 110 and 135 kg and does between 90 and 100 kg. Performance records for this breed indicate exceptional individuals are capable of average daily gains over 200 g/day in feedlot. More standard performance would be 150–170 g/day.

**65**

**Figure 2.**

*Breeds and Breeding System of Indigenous and Crossbred Goats in Nepal*

an extended breeding season making possible three kids every 2 years.

*Different exotic goat breeds available in Nepal (photo courtesy: Animal Breeding Division, NARC).*

The ovulation rate for Boer goats ranges from one to four eggs/doe with an average of 1.7. A kidding rate of 200% is common for this breed. Puberty is reached early, usually about 6 months for the males and 10–12 months for the females. The Boer goat also has

It was introduced in Nepal from a private sector to improve growth performance of local goats. Recently, projects funded by the World Bank (WB) and International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development specifically Agriculture Food Security Project (AFSP) and Kisan Ka Lagi Unnat Bui Bijan Karyakram (KUBK), respectively, are working on producing crossbreds with the local Khari/Hill goat, government, and breeders' farmers

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82821*
